Given a grim diagnosis during a routine doctor's checkup, a man who once had it all finds his attempt to disappear into a working-class suburb and spend his remaining days subsisting on vodka and junk food hopelessly disrupted when he… MoreGiven a grim diagnosis during a routine doctor's checkup, a man who once had it all finds his attempt to disappear into a working-class suburb and spend his remaining days subsisting on vodka and junk food hopelessly disrupted when he falls for the beautiful divorcée next door and a busybody neighbor notices a miraculous stain on his stucco wall. Henry Poole (Luke Wilson) had a comfortable life and a beautiful fiancée. But just when it seemed that the future couldn't look any brighter for Henry, a visit to the doctor's office casts a dark cloud over his sunny outlook. Shattered, Henry wants nothing more in life than to simply vanish into his surroundings, and what better way to accomplish that feat than to purchase a cookie-cutter house in a working-class suburb and spend his final days awaiting the inevitable in peaceful solitude. Unfortunately for Henry, his new neighbors aren't about to let the handsome neighborhood newcomer spend his days sulking. The first to stop by and welcome Henry to his new home is local yenta Esperanza (Adriana Barraza), who comes knocking on his door with a fresh plate of homemade tamales and laundry list of questions.Later, after taking notice of sad-eyed divorcée Dawn (Radha Mitchell) and her taciturn eight-year-old daughter, Millie (Morgan Lily), who hasn't spoken a work since her father left, Henry finds his self-imposed exile shattered when Esperanza notices a stain on his stucco wall that seems to possess miraculous powers. Before Henry can say "Hail Mary," Esperanza is leading pilgrimages to the "holy site" in his backyard and inviting Father Salizar (George Lopez) to give his blessings to the sacrosanct blemish. As skeptical as Henry may be about the healing powers of the curious apparition, however, his growing friendship with young Millie not only brings him closer to Dawn, but also proves to him that there's no escaping the power of hope. Cheryl Hines, Richard Benjamin, and Jessica Walter co-star in a wry existential comedy drama penned by first-time feature film screenwriter Albert Torres, and directed by Mark Pellington (Arlington Road, The Mothman Prophecies). ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed this film as much as I did. I didn't expect it to be good whatsoever, but it was. I thought that the film, though… MoreI was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed this film as much as I did. I didn't expect it to be good whatsoever, but it was. I thought that the film, though not perfect had a pretty interesting story, with a good cast. The film could have been better of course, but for what it was, it wasn't awful. The subject matter of the film is a bit too preachy, but even with that in mind, it doesn't go overboard. The cast makes this film worth watching, and the story is pretty good, and I enjoyed the film. I wouldn't call the film excellent, but for what it was, it was a fine little film with a good cast, and the cast made the story more interesting as the characters they played were quite interesting, and with that, the cast selected for the parts are perfect for the roles. I enjoyed the message the movie delivered, and it had a funny, heartfelt emotion story to it, which a lot of films lack. Luke Wilson, whom I'm not a fan of delivers a good performance here, and he has good chemistry with fellow actress Radha Mitchell. Henry Poole is Here has good comedic elements mixed in with good dramatic elements. What made this film good for me was the good cast who made the somewhat ordinary story to be better. Sometimes a good cast can elevated an ordinary plot into something pretty good and this is the case with Henry Poole is Here. An engaging story with a good cast makes this a film that is far better than one might think. I had low expectations with this film, I it surprised me at how good it really was.

William Dunmyer

"Henry Poole Is Here" is a wonderful little movie about the mystery of God (or whatever you want to call it) and the equally mysterious power of… More"Henry Poole Is Here" is a wonderful little movie about the mystery of God (or whatever you want to call it) and the equally mysterious power of humans to save each other. It does at times get hokey and overly simple, and at other times the super-stylish direction becomes heavy-handed. But by and large, this film from director Mark Pellington (who has worked mostly in rock videos and television) is a refreshing joy.
Pellington, first-time screenwriter Albert Torres, and lead actor Luke Wilson all show impressive courage in going against the grain of a ferociously atheist pop culture by openly pondering questions about God and expecting an open-minded, intelligent, non-fundamentalist audience to stay with them.
Wilson plays a lonely man who's just gotten some difficult news and recedes into himself. He buys a non-descript, broken-down house in a disheveled, lower-middle-class corner of greater Los Angeles, where he leads the life of a morose shut-in. One day an image appears on the side of his shabby house, and an older woman who lives next door reads spiritual meaning into it. As a good college-educated atheist, the man of course laughs at her. But soon some inexplicable and powerful things happen that cause him and some other neighbors to start to wonder about the mysterious side of life.
A strong, almost eerie performance from seven-year-old Morgan Lily (a child actor whose career is definitely worth watching) expands the film nicely but does occasionally cause it to border on schmaltz. Wilson's consistent under-statement helps keep things from tipping too far in that direction, as does the nice, non-showy supporting work from Radha Mitchell. "Henry Poole" is recommended to anyone willing to consider the limits of atheist explanations of life.
The movie poster you see in the upper left makes the film seem sunny and light, which is not true at all. It's actually mostly dark and heavy.

Leigh Ryan

Miracles can happen...

Jeff Talbott

Probably too simplistic, but I was deeply touched by this sweet, simple-to-the-bone movie.

Nicki Marie

Didn't really warm to this. Not because of anything "controversial" about it - just found it depressing and boring. Radha Mitchell is good, as… MoreDidn't really warm to this. Not because of anything "controversial" about it - just found it depressing and boring. Radha Mitchell is good, as always, but this film is a snore.

Michael Gildea

Henry Poole Is Here is 90% sentimental bullshit that must've been written by a failed novelist turned theologian or vice versa. This movie is a series of… MoreHenry Poole Is Here is 90% sentimental bullshit that must've been written by a failed novelist turned theologian or vice versa. This movie is a series of cliches and overused plot devices (precocious teenagers, freakishly cute children, discovering the solution was in YOU all along) strung together to make a halfway decent movie that a l m o s t got me a little misty. Henry Poole Is Here was photographed pretty well even if you saw the ending coming from forever away. Luke Wilson did a decent acting job when he wasn't too busy squinting but beyond that I'm sure some religious studies class will love watching it at the end of the semester.

paul sandberg

the bullit for this film says that it's a comedy - wow! It doesn't even attempt to be one, and there are no inklings that it wanted to be one.… Morethe bullit for this film says that it's a comedy - wow! It doesn't even attempt to be one, and there are no inklings that it wanted to be one.
Similarly, I read the synopsis and was wondering if we were talking about the same film.
To me, this film is all about faith, period! Miracles can be in the most mundane things (sometimes we don't even realize that we are experiencing one).
That a man can have his life shattered (by learning that he has an incureable disease) and then, if spite of everything, learns to cherish the simple things around him, like love and faith, is at the crux here; and as such it works, though it becomes a bit too formula and pat.
There are many nice touches here, but some missteps as well (the odd camera angles trying to show a man outside of his surroundings is a nice touch, but incongrous with the rest of the film). I also felt that the music video aspect was misplaced here, seeming to be filler that only supported what was already being shown, or was a cheap way of "telling" the audience what was going on.
The "6 months earlier" segue was childish and very tv movie - totally out of place here, while the conclusion didn't really hold any revelation (hmm, he wasn't sick after all, just misdiagnosed - kind of a cop out, but...).
I also found it disconcerting that the single mom next door seemed to never be working - what was up with that? did hubby walk out and leave her a settlement?
However, there are still enough moments of real truth here that propel this film away from rotten. The Hispanic neighbor was a wonderfully played role, and the interplay between Wilson and the single mom felt real (as were his sentiments, not really openly put out there, that getting into a relationship with a dying man was something to avoid).

Philip Price

What a great surprise. "Henry Poole," is a movie that shows, without preaching at all, that faith is something we all need and even though it is easy… MoreWhat a great surprise. "Henry Poole," is a movie that shows, without preaching at all, that faith is something we all need and even though it is easy to lose, we can't give into the events in life that are not always to our best interests. Ignore the synopsis on this page and go get this movie right now. I cant even really put into words what this movie made me feel, it was just a good, warm feeling. For some, it may be a little to slow, especially in the beginning, but give it time, and give it a chance-everyone here is putting forth their best and Luke Wilson finally shows us what has always seemed to be in him. It is a genuinley moving film about life, and what it is at its core. I would reccomend this to anyone and only wish that it had recieved more attention. It is films like this that are too often overlooked when it comes time for these awards. Light movies that have meaning and laughter. I can only hope it at least becomes a hit on DVD.

Bannan instant enigma- just add water

So, it was another saturday...where I finally waltzed downstairs close to noon hoping for Hitchcock...I found this instead and was surprisingly delighted.… MoreSo, it was another saturday...where I finally waltzed downstairs close to noon hoping for Hitchcock...I found this instead and was surprisingly delighted.
BFFFer -- I so think you would ADORE this one. Review, TBC.

Lorenzo von Matterhorn

<i>"Changing his attitude will take a miracle."</i>
Henry Poole moves in to a house in his old neighborhood, to spend what he believes… More<i>"Changing his attitude will take a miracle."</i>
Henry Poole moves in to a house in his old neighborhood, to spend what he believes are his remaining days alone. The discovery of a "miracle" by a nosy neighbor ruptures his solitude and restores his faith in life.
<center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center>
Truly extraordinary dramedy about a sad and angry young man (Wilson in arguably his best work to date) who upon learning he is dying, buys a home in his old childhood memory and finds himself at the center of attraction when a mysterious stain appears on his house prompting a relentless next-door- neighbor (the wonderful Barraza) to claim it as a possibly miracle : since the stain looks like Jesus Christ. Added to the mix are Wilson's other next-door-neighbor (ethereally comely Mitchell, also giving a fabulous performance) and her silent daughter (newcomer Lily, a truly adorable and remarkably gifted young actress) whose equally somber lives intermingle with the reluctant new homeowner. Director Mark Pellington does an excellent job avoiding the mawkish and predictable with a splendid script by novice Albert Torres that is one of the best inspirational films I've seen in some time and how the need to make a connection/bond with another human being is overwhelmingly emotionally fulfilling. A small gem of a movie that had me in tears and smiles throughout.

Kevin M. Williams

considered for your approval: life is what happens when you were making other plans, or so a famous john lennon quote supposedly goes. in this case the man,… Moreconsidered for your approval: life is what happens when you were making other plans, or so a famous john lennon quote supposedly goes. in this case the man, with quite a few problems of his own, is constantly interrupted because his neighbors are of the opinion that a stain on his home is, like the shroud of turin, a holy relic. missing only the intro and closer of senor mister rod serling---along with the infamous musical coda---this is the story of what can happen if one only changes one's perspective, if one can, if one will...and one may, here, in the twilight zone.